The Big Butt Trail, despite its comical name, is a tough hike along the western peaks of the Black Mountains. Most hikers begin at the Balsam Gap trailhead on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the easier way to reach the viewpoints. This is seasonal access however, since the parkway is typically closed all winter in this section. Year-round access is possible at Cane River Gap, deep in the backcountry of the Big Ivy section of the Pisgah National Forest.

You may think of the Big Butt Trail as the little cousin to the Black Mountain Crest Trail. It is shorter, not as difficult, and crosses peaks just below 6,000 feet. At the beginning you’ll face a long, switchbacking ascent through beautiful hardwood forests to the mile-high ridgeline between Big Butt and Little Butt. The Black Mountains form a U around the Cane River Valley, but all of the tall, well-known peaks are on the east side of the range. That doesn’t diminish the hike though, it provides arguably the best views of the eastern Black Mountains from Little Butt. After Little Butt the trail continues south past Point Misery then ends at Balsam Gap. From here you have the option of following the Mountains-to-Sea Trail east to a great view below the 6,320-foot Blackstock Knob. Once you reach the summit turn around for a tiring 7.6-mile hike back to Cane River Gap. There are also multiple options for a shuttle hike. Leave a car at Balsam Gap for the shortest possible shuttle. You can also follow the MST east to the crossing on NC 128 below Potato Knob, or west to the Glassmine Falls Overlook or Graybeard Mountain Overlook.

Alternate: Balsam Gap Trailhead – If the Blue Ridge Parkway is open to Balsam Gap you can do a shorter, easier version of this hike. You can hike out to Big Butt, turn around, and choose to add Blackstock Knob if you wish. This hike is 9.7 miles with 2,850 feet elevation gain.

Mile 4.1 – On the right side of the trail is a campsite beneath the canopy. Immediately past this spot the trail passes the summit of Little Butt. On your left is a large rock outcrop with open views south and east. The high crest of the eastern Black Mountains stretches out before you. The range forms a U around the deep, remote Cane River Valley. Immediately south the rounded, forested peak is Point Misery with the tip of Blackstock Knob appearing in the distance. Once you locate the communications towers on Clingmans Peak you can start naming the mountains and gaps sequentially to the left. After Mt. Gibbes the ridge drops to Stepps Gap, rising moderately to Mt. Hallback before gradually ascending to the unremarkable summit of Mt. Mitchell. The next double peaks are Mt. Craig and Big Tom. The ridge briefly dips to Big Tom Gap before rising high again to Balsam Cone and Cattail Peak. Deep Gap is the deepest notch in the range and divides the central Blacks from the shorter northern Blacks. Winter Star Mountain is distinguishable above the commanding 6,000-foot ridge that culminates in Celo Knob. After Celo Knob the land drops thousands of feet to the valleys of the Cane River and South Toe River. Once you’ve finished admiring the views from Little Butt, continue south on the Big Butt Trail. The trail steeply descends the mountain on a long series of well-built steps to a saddle between Little Butt and Point Misery.

Mile 7.8 – On the left side of the trail is an expansive view north of the Cane River Valley surrounded by the Black Mountains. From here you can see Celo Knob in the far north and trace the Black Mountains all the way to Clingmans Peak.